Sino-Japanese War
1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
In these woodblock prints, Chinese soldiers always appear to be suffering or dead. On the other hand, the Japanese soldiers are portrayed like a hero and seems to be strong and proud. Moreover, they also appear to be somewhat invincible since the bullets are never hitting the Japanese soldier but just passing by.
- Chinese: mouths are opened; in Buddhism, people stepped on were demons. By portraying the Chinese as demons, Japanese were able to justify their violence/murder (easier to kill, emotionally, and gain support from their citizens)
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
In the prints, it is clear that the Japanese are using highly developed/westernized weapons. They use cannon, rifles, large size ships, and Japanese soldiers are wearing western style uniforms. Although the Chinese also has guns, they don’t seem to have any other weapon. This shows how Japan has adopted the European technologies more than China. However, we could still see the use of swords in the printing for both sides.
- Japanese ships=white (good), Chinese ships=black (evil)
3. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
During the 19th century, in England and America, strength in sports represented the strength of the nation. Sports were a symbol of the nation’s strength. .Why does this matter to a people? What do they find so gratifying in the experience of witnessing their team beat another on the arena of sport?
4. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
Although imperialism includes a territorial and political control over a nation, it must also include proving the imperialists’ superiority over imperialist nations need to prove their superiority to justify their actions.
Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
The artistic renditions depict the heroics of war better because it is a reproduction of a scene, which means it is not 100% accurate. Moreover, artworks were often used as a type of propaganda, which makes the artwork glorify their nation. The artwork emphasizes the heroic moments of their nation.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
The photographs depict the horrors of the war better because the artwork is not as detailed and not as accurate as the photographs. In the artwork, the artist emphasized what the nation would want to see, which is not the horrors of war. Moreover, the emotions on the people’s faces in the photographs show the horrors of war better since it is more realistic.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?
The medium affects the message because different mediums emphasize different things about the war. Moreover, the paintings would also be affected by the point of view and the purpose of the artist.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
1905 is a turing point on Japanese and World history because the Japan won the Russo-Japanese War, which was proving the success of Japanese industrialization/westernization and the rise of Japan’s power in the world. The history would have been much different if Japan lost in the Russo-Japanese War because the European would have been continuously intervening in Japan. Moreover, other Asian countries would fall under the control of the Europeans instead of the Japanese, who were the main imperialists in Asia in the 20th century.
Exercise: Comparing the Kabo (Gabo) Reform Edicts (1894) and the Meiji Charter of Oath (1868)
Questions:
How are these documents alike? Be specific in showing exactly how they are similar.
Both document support an equal society except for the king in document 1. In document 1, it states that the hierarchical system should be abolished and in document 2, it states how all classes should participate in decision making for the state.
How are these documents different? Be specific in showing how exactly they are different.
The difference is that in document 1, it states that the king should only have power over the government but in document 2, it states that all classes should unite and administer state affairs. Document 1 supports a monarchy where as document 2 supports a liberal government. Moreover, document 1 supports sovereignty where as document 2 supports imperialism.
What, ultimately, is their purpose?
The ultimate purpose of both of the documents is to create an outline for the state. Moreover, both documents support equality in the state.
4. These were very lofty goals for both people to try to achieve. To what degree do you feel the Koreans and the Japanese were able to achieve their objectives?
Koreans were extremely motivated to become a sovereign country and escape from the foreign control but I don’t think their goals for an equal society would have been achieved since the Yangban, the noble class would strongly oppose and although the appointment was based on merit alone, since Korea is a strict Confucian society, relationships would have been important to the appointment. In Japan, although they supported equality, when it states the common people, it states how the common people are limited to people no less than the civil and military officials which is not equality. This policy is favoring the upper class.'
Timeline of Korean History: The Last One Hundred Years of the Chosun Dynasty
Picture Citations
"Naval battle between China and Japan on the Yalu River." Image. The Illustrated London News Picture Library. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Treaty of Kanghwa - Ask Jeeves Encyclopedia." Ask Jeeves Web Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"The Tonghak (Donghak) Rebellion 1894." KoreanHistory.info,2011. Web. 15 May 2011
Works Cited
"Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Japan, the West, and Korea." Asia for Educators | Columbia University. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Kicking in the Door." Korean History Project - "Where the Past is Always Present". N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Tonghak rebellion." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.
Asian Studies!!!!!!!! :D
Sino-Japanese War
1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
In these woodblock prints, Chinese soldiers always appear to be suffering or dead. On the other hand, the Japanese soldiers are portrayed like a hero and seems to be strong and proud. Moreover, they also appear to be somewhat invincible since the bullets are never hitting the Japanese soldier but just passing by.
- Chinese: mouths are opened; in Buddhism, people stepped on were demons. By portraying the Chinese as demons, Japanese were able to justify their violence/murder (easier to kill, emotionally, and gain support from their citizens)
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
In the prints, it is clear that the Japanese are using highly developed/westernized weapons. They use cannon, rifles, large size ships, and Japanese soldiers are wearing western style uniforms. Although the Chinese also has guns, they don’t seem to have any other weapon. This shows how Japan has adopted the European technologies more than China. However, we could still see the use of swords in the printing for both sides.
- Japanese ships=white (good), Chinese ships=black (evil)
3. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
During the 19th century, in England and America, strength in sports represented the strength of the nation. Sports were a symbol of the nation’s strength. .Why does this matter to a people? What do they find so gratifying in the experience of witnessing their team beat another on the arena of sport?
4. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
Although imperialism includes a territorial and political control over a nation, it must also include proving the imperialists’ superiority over imperialist nations need to prove their superiority to justify their actions.
Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
The artistic renditions depict the heroics of war better because it is a reproduction of a scene, which means it is not 100% accurate. Moreover, artworks were often used as a type of propaganda, which makes the artwork glorify their nation. The artwork emphasizes the heroic moments of their nation.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
The photographs depict the horrors of the war better because the artwork is not as detailed and not as accurate as the photographs. In the artwork, the artist emphasized what the nation would want to see, which is not the horrors of war. Moreover, the emotions on the people’s faces in the photographs show the horrors of war better since it is more realistic.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?
The medium affects the message because different mediums emphasize different things about the war. Moreover, the paintings would also be affected by the point of view and the purpose of the artist.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
1905 is a turing point on Japanese and World history because the Japan won the Russo-Japanese War, which was proving the success of Japanese industrialization/westernization and the rise of Japan’s power in the world. The history would have been much different if Japan lost in the Russo-Japanese War because the European would have been continuously intervening in Japan. Moreover, other Asian countries would fall under the control of the Europeans instead of the Japanese, who were the main imperialists in Asia in the 20th century.
Exercise: Comparing the Kabo (Gabo) Reform Edicts (1894) and the Meiji Charter of Oath (1868)
Questions:
How are these documents alike? Be specific in showing exactly how they are similar.
Both document support an equal society except for the king in document 1. In document 1, it states that the hierarchical system should be abolished and in document 2, it states how all classes should participate in decision making for the state.
How are these documents different? Be specific in showing how exactly they are different.
The difference is that in document 1, it states that the king should only have power over the government but in document 2, it states that all classes should unite and administer state affairs. Document 1 supports a monarchy where as document 2 supports a liberal government. Moreover, document 1 supports sovereignty where as document 2 supports imperialism.
What, ultimately, is their purpose?
The ultimate purpose of both of the documents is to create an outline for the state. Moreover, both documents support equality in the state.
4. These were very lofty goals for both people to try to achieve. To what degree do you feel the Koreans and the Japanese were able to achieve their objectives?
Koreans were extremely motivated to become a sovereign country and escape from the foreign control but I don’t think their goals for an equal society would have been achieved since the Yangban, the noble class would strongly oppose and although the appointment was based on merit alone, since Korea is a strict Confucian society, relationships would have been important to the appointment. In Japan, although they supported equality, when it states the common people, it states how the common people are limited to people no less than the civil and military officials which is not equality. This policy is favoring the upper class.'
Timeline of Korean History: The Last One Hundred Years of the Chosun Dynasty
by Seo Hyun Kim and Natalie (Na Hyun) HaTimeline of Korean History: The Last One Hundred Years of the Chosun Dynasty on Dipity.
Picture Citations
"Naval battle between China and Japan on the Yalu River." Image. The Illustrated London News Picture Library. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Treaty of Kanghwa - Ask Jeeves Encyclopedia." Ask Jeeves Web Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"The Tonghak (Donghak) Rebellion 1894." KoreanHistory.info,2011. Web. 15 May 2011
Works Cited
"Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Japan, the West, and Korea." Asia for Educators | Columbia University. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Kicking in the Door." Korean History Project - "Where the Past is Always Present". N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Tonghak rebellion." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 15 May 2011.